And The Little People Lost Again

Well, it's happened. The day so many people hoped and prayed would never come, has. On Tuesday night the Thames Valley Board voted to close the Norwich District High School, 9-3. This community has fought for six years to keep their school open, having rallies, bake sales--fundraisers of all types, putting up signs, taking out ads, renting halls for meetings, making submissions to the various committees of the Board. In short, they have worked tirelessly for the survival of their community school.

And in the end it was all for nought. Last Tuesday night the two representatives from Norwich Township stunned their constituents by moving and seconding the motion to close the school. I can only think that some posturing and plotting took place behind closed doors for them to betray those who had elected them. To me it seems they could have voted against the motion just to keep the peace. It would still have passed. And I'm sure they knew that before the vote was ever taken.

Now those of you who don't know the history or the record of this school probably wonder what all the fuss is about. You see, it is not just the small schools of Ontario that are being systematically closed, the students swallowed up by monolithic city schools. A way of life is being threatened. The very ability of parents to nurture their kids in their own setting is disappearing. These students know all the people in their community. Many of them currently take after-school jobs in the Norwich area. Others work in local businesses for school credits, gaining insight into the adult world around them. This link will be severed. And what of the businesses where these students spend their dollars at lunch and after school? They will be hurt, dependent as they are on the student market. I would not be surprised to see more than one forced to close.

Most importantly, the students will lose their community identity as they are bused to the various surrounding city schools and become small fish in big ponds. They won't even be all together in one other school. Their uniqueness will erode.

As a teenager I experienced this myself, riding an hour each way on the bus to Woodstock Collegiate. (Take about wasting time!) Don't get me wrong. I liked my school and am proud to have gone there, but I remember the outcast feeling we kids from the 'country' were made to feel. Being from the farm was not considered good. Never mind that my father was very successful both in farming and in local politics. We were still 'outsiders'. Less, in some way, than the city kids.

On the positive side, these students will have more course choices, particularly the ones who shy away from the maths and sciences. They will be able to take senior level Music and Art, Sociology-type courses--those courses for the more artsy types. And the math/science geeks will have more choice for their specialties. I only hope that Norwich Township's loss will in some way be mitigated by a broader education for our young people.

Shopping With My Husband

Sometimes I think we women are just plain nuts.

When we were on holiday a couple of weeks ago in Utah my husband, daughter and I hit the outlet mall armed with coupons and deals. None of us really needed too much so we shopped carefully, I think. Beth loaded up on the next sizes of kiddie clothes for Chelsea. I picked up a couple of grand baby outfits for our two (well, almost two,) grandchildren, and Ron got sweaters.

Most of the stores had deals and we took advantage. When Ron and I went into the Izod store for his sweaters, I took a look at the women's side. They had exactly the same sweater for ladies that Ron bought in quadruple. Great, I thought, and checked the price. Can you believe that the identical sweater in smaller sizes was ten dollars more? I was angry. Tempted no more, I dropped the lovely mauve piece and stomped out.

Why does this happen? Men's clothes are bigger, use more fabric/yarn, yet they are cheaper. A good bargain on a shirt for a man is $10-$20, and this is beautiful packaged goods, the regular price. A similar blouse for a woman is $40-$50, no packaging, just hanging on the rack. Now I don't really want the packaging but I'm trying to see why smaller clothes cost so much more. Could it be that women will pay anything to get that piece while most men really don't care? Do the stores see us coming?

And this morning I picked up the plastic tube of makeup I've been avoiding using because I don't like it that well. I read the small print on the front: "illuminating anti-fatigue foundation". What? It's going to keep me from being tired? It's going to put a halo effect on my face? Wow, this is really amazing stuff. I tried it once more and looked in the mirror at my skin. Was it "replumped"? Was it "radiant", with a "smooth finish"? Well, not so much. It was the same stuff that's been buffeted for sixty-plus years. A little tinted, maybe, with the brown spots muted, but really, it just didn't look replumped at all.

Of course, most of us don't like that idea of being replumped so maybe I should be happy and just head out to my weekly Weight Watchers meeting. On my way I'll think about the difference between men's clothes and women's. Could it be that things are just cheaper on Mars?

I figured it out!

After about 15 minutes of testing and trying, forgetting and remembering, searching and just plain screwing around, I figured out how to put my MS Publisher file into my blog. And here it is. Blow it up to read the fine print about the event my friend and I are having November 8th. Should be great fun.

Christmas Earrings

Trying to get good pictures of my jewelry is a constant frustration but these are not too bad. Here is a pair of Christmas tree earrings made with special Swarovski marguerite crystals in three sizes and separated with various spacers. They are so cute!

This pair is in Swarovski clear crystal with a red bicone accent. (The hands are mine.)

I took a picture of a group of earrings for the sale on November 8th. Note the pretty snowmen and the gold and green baubles.

The lime green earrings I made one day to match an outfit I was wearing that night. So cool to be able to do that. Of course, I have boxes of beads to choose from at a moment's notice; hence, the jewelry sale and the LOW prices. It's time to make room for my new imaginings.

Creations for Christmas

Last night I finished off three pieces of jewelry which have been waiting for clasps, etc. The pendant is a large rivoli studded with 4 mm. crystals and size 11 sead beads, which I repeated for the chain. I love it and went to my closet to see what matches. When I make beautiful things I don't mind if they don't sell at my sales.

The middle bracelet is a right angle weave pattern with browns and teal blues and matching sead beads. The clasp is copper which is so popular these days.

For the bottom bracelet I chose mauve crystals with brown Swarovski bicones. Wow! It turned out great. So unusual. Original, even.

Have to go and do some more beading!

Christmas Creeps In

Well, it's started. Families are planning just what shape the celebrations will take this year, some stores have put up dual displays of Hallowe'en/Thanksgiving orange along with Christmas reds and greens and my friend and I are having our Christmas Jewelry Open House and Sale. I love this time of year. So much promise, so much excitement, so much love. People take on a softer side, as they think more of others than themselves and smiles shine more readily.

I know, October is pretty early to be thinking of this but maybe my blog will be prophetic for some, adding to the global happiness. We could sure use it. Thinking of good things takes our minds away from the price of gas, the soldiers being killed in Afghanistan, the fact that my nephew is headed over there in March, the health issues many I know face...that list is endless. Best to have happy things to think on.

Beading is always a joy to me, the only down side being that I end up with way too much lovely jewelry. When my large drawer starts overflowing with beauteous baubles I know it's time to sell some. Well, a lot, actually. Last year I had a grand time inviting friends and family to my sale at rock bottom prices. This year my friend and I are pooling resources and having the sale here. (If any of you are close and want a flyer, I will email it to you upon request.) The date is November 8, from 1:00 till 4:30 at my home.

Following are some pictures of things we have for sale:

Next post I will put in pictures of some Christmas earrings, so cute you just want six pairs. In fact, I don't know how I can bear to sell them!

A Week In Utah

My husband and I have just returned from a lovely week in Utah where daughter Beth, (Shades of Bliss) and granddaughter Chelsea joined us for some fun and sun. The first couple of days there was snow, surprising both us and the flowers outside one of the Mormon buildings across from the famed Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

Inside the Tabernacle we heard the Sunday morning radio broadcast, the Wednesday morning organ recital and the Thursday evening choir practice. Here is the wonderful organ area on Sunday morning:

The area behind the organ changes with the music throughout the performance. I particularly liked the blue below.
They have a full orchestra seated in front of the choir and the director stands way out in front. At the practice he was miked and we could hear all of his directions to the choir and the orchestra. Wonderful. Joining this choir takes quite a lot of work but, my, it would be awesome to sing with such a group.
We also took a trip out to Great Salt Lake, although it was a little cool for trying out the swimming in salt water as my brother-in-law suggested. I dipped my hand in, smelled, tasted but discerned nothing special until the water dried on my hand. Then my skin was salty.

Somewhere along the way, my husband trekked into Salt Lake City on his own for a chance to do some ancestry digging using the LDS resources. He found that there are over 4000 places around the world where people can tap into the historical data stored by the Mormons, one of them quite near us. Ah, the value of computers to shrink the world.

Below a favorite picture of Great Salt Lake again:

We had a wonderful time with our girls. Chelsea is becoming more a person all the time. At 7 1/2 months she is a going concern, full of smiles and belly laughs. She kept us quite entertained. Beth was kept hopping as Chelsea popped two teeth while with us, ahead of the game with that, too. I have posted pictures on the web but keep them only for family as I am not comfortable putting our baby out there for the world. That protective instinct, I guess.

Now we wait a couple of months to visit Chelsea for her first Christmas. What a present!

Family Frolics

Sunday was our first ever Family Reunion, replacing our gigantic Christmas get-together where we rented a hall and had a dinner catered for over 80 people. Time for a new twist. We were all invited to my sister's farm where she and her husband raise Belgian horses and garden up a storm. The cool day was lovely although once the sun went down the group around the fire got larger and larger. Here the young and not-so-young are thrashing about picking up wrapped candy. My two remaining aunts, both in their eighties, strike a fetching pose for the photographer. Since this picnic is replacing our Christmas party, Aunt Helen wore her Christmas sweater. So much fun, she is!

Here Dan discovers the joy of holding his cousin's baby girl. He actually put her to sleep!
Steve, Jacquie and Hugo share a laugh at me trying to get a candid shot of them.

Brian and Adam try to solve the problems of the world, while in the background the picturesque barn and white fences sheltering Belgian horses provide the perfect setting.
Against the barn the last flowers of summer fight bravely on.

Steve hitched up the horses and took people on rides for a couple of hours, a novelty for young and old.
And here Linda poses with them all for the picture. She is happiest when basking in her farm's delights, especially when showing it to visitors. And rightly so.
My husband and I posed for a picture in the photo spot set up especially for the purpose. Throughout the day, many took advantage of it.
Here my nephew, Nathan, and his nephew, James, posed for me.
I stayed from two o'clock till almost 9 that night and still didn't get to have long conversations with everyone who attended but it was a wonderful day. Monday I was still glowing as I uploaded my photos to my Kodak Gallery and shared them with family. These are the best moments in time.

The Pain in Politics

I just happened to catch up with the Yarn Harlot's blog and found a stinging rebuke of Stephen Harper knitted into the fabric of her collection. Awesome. Someone who was astounded about Harper's suggestion to cut funding to the arts and who took the time to castigate the man's politics.

Too often we make a passing comment about the frustrating nonsense which eats up politics and then go on with our lives. I think the politicians count on that. It's a free country, we've been told our whole lives, and we can take part or opt to let others shape our world. Too often we do the latter.

For years I was an ardent reader, thinker, debater of the nation's business, yea, even the business of the nation to the south of us, but then I got tired. I am a person who sees a problem and immediately thinks of how to solve it. Guess that's some of the teacher genes coming in. Anyhow somewhere along the way I came to the sad conclusion that I can't change everything (The Serenity Prayer) and my life is happier when I let most of the world go on its way without my comment. I am ashamed even as I write that, but it is true. And for my time remaining on earth I have chosen to be happy in my small world rather than beating my head against the mountain of things I cannot change in the bigger world.

Kudos to those like David Suzuki or Al Gore or Mother Teresa or many other lesser knowns who have made names for themselves because of their selfless concern for a world wider than their own sphere. And thanks to those who run politically. We do need them, thankless job though politics is, and some even reward our trust.

And thanks to the Yarn Harlot, whose small voice packs a big wallop of sense. Hopefully Stephen Harper will read her and listen.

Once a teacher, always...

This afternoon I spend a wonderful two hours teaching two lovely ladies about digital cameras, computers and merging the two. We had a great time and they put up with my less than perfect knowledge, ending with them being more comfortable with their cameras, downloading photo managing software (Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Free Edition 3.2), uploading photos to share on the web and just getting up and going with their cameras. Fun.

If you are looking for an easy piece of photo software try going on the Photoshop website for a free download as mentioned above. You can put in many, many pictures from your camera or those already on your computer. The photo managing abilities are clear and simple. The photo enhancing capabilities are few but easy to use and to back out of if you don't like the changes. You will not find the manipulating abilities extensive but for a few enhancements, it is just fine.

I like the Kodak Gallery for uploading pictures to the web. Saves emailing pics and clogging up some friends' email accounts. (Those with dial-up particularly.) You can choose to share with the world or just with friends and family.

So maybe you'd like to get out there and upgrade your photo/computer skills. And don't forget the videos you can take of your grandkids for emailing to the world!

Mind Moments

This title may confuse some but my creative outlets are for my mind. Something sweet and lovely happens inside my head when I see, create and behold beautiful things. Here is a second bracelet completed in green tones with purple accents. I still like the blue one better but this is very close to the first one which I sold. How exciting that was! I showed it to a group of acquaintances and made an immediate sale. A few weeks later I met Katie in the market and she was wearing her bracelet. I had a nostalgic visit with my handiwork.

Also in this picture are earrings in progress. One is finished and the other is waiting for the silver earring wire to be attached. Tonight I'll do it.

She was short, plump, with blonded hair, a few spots telling her age, and laugh lines, her ready smile. Her eyes sparkled with every new idea and softened with love as she thought of her new granddaughter and expected grandson. Whenever she mentioned “her” Ron of 42 years marriage her voice warmed and her smile widened. On the surface she was a happy woman.

But underneath the loving-life persona lurked questions and doubt. Was there not more to life? She understood the lyric, “Is that all there is?” and continually looked for new fulfillment. She swam, walked, biked for a healthy heart. She read, read, and read some more for her mind. Ideas excited her, especially those which came unbidden as she thought about what she was reading. And then she expanded to writing.

Her first book was for her husband and two grown children, the self-published account of her childhood, growing up in a loving family of thirteen children on a farm in Oxford County. She inserted pictures, each one a song of her childhood. Her children were entranced.

Then she wrote a similar book of her love affair with her husband and their joy in raising their boy and girl. Again pictures prompted memories and she laughed and cried as she composed at the computer. Another popular self-published volume.

Her thirty-something son challenged her to write: “Mom, you’re sixty years old, in perfect health, with lots of writing skills. If you don’t write that novel now, when will you?” And so she started. And she wrote. She wrote of history, and love, of war and death, of babies and heartache. She wrote a novel of over 100,000 words.

Now she is stuck in a rewrite funk, trying to decide how best to bring this baby to its birth day. And she has put it aside for a few weeks while her life smooths out again and she regains the strength and, yes, the fortitude to persist.

And so I am here.

NOTE: The above is the bio I have written for my writing piece for our inaugural writers' group meeting tomorrow. Hope they like it.

Beadergirl is Back

Today I am inspired to write on my blog again. Why? Look at the bracelet I just completed this afternoon!

Here are a few things from the last few weeks, a beaded chain necklace, one with a Swarovski pendant, a dragonfly focal point, another Swarovski pendant necklace and a hemalyke choker. The possibilities are endless.

I got the idea to try some other medallions for neck jewelry using all Swarovski crystals. They are stunning. I think I'll use the chain stitch from the pic above to finish them off.

I also have fallen in love with the butterfly bracelets, a course I took last year. Here I've made them in black, blue, pink and beige, all fabulous.

Of course you noticed the other bracelets in the two pics. It is such fun to use memory wire and use up leftover beads, letting my imagination go wild. My friend taught me the bottom stitch in pink and black. It is somewhat heavy and I think I'll have to redo the clasp as I'm not happy with it yet.

All of these will be on sale along with hundreds more at our Christmas Open House sale on November 8. Should be fun!

Meanderings and Musings

Sky Pics:

On one of my walks last week I was excited to see the shape of the new golf course, its rolling beauty finally appearing after months of snow. And I couldn't resist another angle with this patch of blue beckoning above.

Heading back towards home I revelled in the widening blue above and hoped for a good shot of the beautiful street where I live.

I know, it's the same street a little closer to home; in fact, our condo is in the distance in this shot. Do you see how green the grass is getting?

And this barren wasteland lies across the road where earth moving machines have turned the landscape to tundra till the new houses pop up one by one.

Pretty Things:

I wanted to show Beth how pretty the salt and pepper she gave me look in the condo. I was saving them for 'good' but decided to use my good stuff more often. We've had many china/sterling silver dinners with friends since moving in here.

I was looking for a fruit bowl to put out and found this one last weekend at Don Zver Pottery in Troy, Ontario. We had a crazy trip there taking wrong turns everywhere, racing a train as the track ran beside the back road we somehow got onto, and watching the clock tick down till closing time at the pottery shop. We expected to get there and find it closed. It was not and we were not disappointed, finding four different bowls we liked very much. Good things.

Oh, that salt and pepper just kept running all over the house!

Kinda Funny:

And here again is a picture from my walk where I thought the building didn't live up to the sign in the foreground. Does this mean the old building is the future home of the recreation complex for this upscale neighbourhood?

I hope not! We cannot however decide why the developers have left this old building here when they tore down all the rest of the former Ontario Hospital buildings. Hmmm.

Our walks have been very exciting as well as healthful since we moved here and we delight in finding interesting new places to explore. We found an old rail trail yesterday but I had left my camera at home. Ah well, next time.

We Had NO Idea!

Our daughter and her husband may not exactly know just how much they have changed us in the last two months. On February 27 they ushered into the world our very first grandchild, an event which we all awaited anxiously and with great anticipation. When the time came for her birth Chelsea took her sweet time making her first appearance. Her mom was ready and waiting but Chelsea just didn't want to travel down that canal and a Caesarian was imminent. Fortunately the doctor didn't have to do that and Chelsea made her wonderful way into the world with just a little prodding. ( I wonder if this is a sign of things to come?)

We had planned with Beth to make our way to Victoria on March 19, a full three weeks after Chelsea was born, and our planning was good because the new young parents had plenty of time to get their heads around parenting before we got there. Watching the two of them with their daughter is something I won't ever forget as both handle her with such love and tenderness, you'd think they have nothing else in their lives, which is just not true. They have busy, productive, happy lives; indeed, we thought they might never opt for children, but opt they did and I haven't seen any regrets so far. (Wait till she's fifteen!)

Our week in their home was wonderful as we both held and cuddled and stroked our newest love as much as we wanted. The young parents were very kind to us. Both Ron and I have always loved children--we spent our lives teaching teenagers--and our five youngest nephews have been a perfect joy to us whenever we've been near them.

But we had NO idea what a physical leap our hearts would take when first we held our first grandchild. My son-in-law passed her tiny three-week-old body into my waiting arms as I sat in a sofa chair and I smelled her damp sweetness against my shoulder. She nestled in against my neck and, of its own accord, my hand stroked the length of her tiny back, up and down, up and down, soothing me as much as her. With every sniff and stroke I felt my grin widen and my body adjust to Chelsea's shape. Holding the prize, I looked at her grandfather and knew I had to share.

Grandpa--my, it's fun to say the word--wasn't really sure and suggested I just hang onto her but I was a little insistent. I stood and, in a tangle of out-of-practice hands and arms we managed to transfer Chelsea into her grandfather's waiting arms and I watched the grin on his face and the softness in his eyes as he held and really met his grandchild for the first time. I saw that he felt as I did and we smiled at each other, knowing without speaking what had happened.

Throughout the next week we got as much of a Chelsea fix as we could, marvelling at how she had touched some inner hot spot in both of us, until, all too soon, the time was running out when we would be there with her. Then we held her even more. Finally we had to leave for the plane trip home and we had our last hugs and kisses with all three of them. I tried not to think about the sadness then and skipped out the door with my suitcase rolling along after me, waving goodbye, a smile of my face.

When we were safely on the plane I let myself think of what we had done and had to blink a few times. I looked at my husband and we talked about the little life we had left behind for three months. She will be so changed when we see her again and we would love to be there for every change. Neither of us were prepared for her effect on us and both of us were all the sadder to be leaving.

By the time we reached Ontario we had resigned ourselves to how lucky we are to have pictures and movies and video-conferencing and digital camera movies. The week after we left Beth sent us a file of her talking to Chelsea while filming on her digital. We were ecstatic and have shown it to everyone we could get to hold still long enough to see it. Yes, we have become those annoying, picture-toting grandparents shoving things in the faces of everyone we meet, trying to share our joy in our granddaughter. Yes, our daughter and her husband have changed us and we love it. I look forward to the three visits we already have planned for the next nine months to see our Chelsea. And, of course, her parents!

Note: I am not putting pictures of Chelsea here as her parents are reluctant and I, too, do not want to expose our angel to the possible dangers of the Internet. Suffice it to say, she is beautiful, with a light dusting of darkish brown hair, big blue eyes, lovely little ears that fold back against her head, hands that should have no trouble spanning the octaves on the piano, a bit of a frown when she is concentrating, a pretty, tiny mouth which yawns and sucks, cries and opens wide, and, now, Beth tells me, smiles in reaction to her world. My arms ache to hold her again.

These Boots Are Made For...

• Walking

Here they are, my serviceable, comfortable, easy-to-zip-up winter boots, looking a little used , or abused maybe, although I did give them a good rub down. These boots have been my loyal friends for five months and have kept my feet toasty and dry throughout this long, snowy winter. In these I have tramped through snow paths to my neighbour's house, sat in an icy arena watching skaters dance, rushed from condo to car to grocery store, tiptoed through slushy puddles, and walked the new streets of our lovely neighbourhood here in Dreamland, Ontario. They have served me well but I am thrilled to pack them away until next winter.

• Stepping Out

These snappy little numbers take me to church, to dinner, to dancing, to anywhere I want to be a little dressy but still have boots on to keep my feet snug, warm, and dry. They are a bit of a problem on ice as the leather soles are quite smooth but my guy takes my arm and I am doubly blessed. Into the closet with them, too!

• Wild and Crazy

Every once in a while I step into these babies with my jeans and my cowboy hat and climb up onto my stallion for a wild ride. Well, actually--not. But I do like to prance in them now and again. The downside is they are really noisy so people can hear me coming for miles.

• Cross Country Skiing

My cross-country ski boots look almost new--because they are! While we enjoy the skiing, these old bodies rebel at being forced out into the cold. This is a problem because we need cold for snow for skiing. Anyhow, these guys are pretty high tech, so much better than the first ones we bought over thirty years ago. These are almost like a runner but have a lace-up inside, covered with a zipper part, all of which keeps the snow out. They latch easily onto the ski bindings on the skis, unlike the old ones which necessitated bending over and contorting the body in unseemly and ungainly ways before we were ready to ski.

Today I have been saying goodbye to my winter boots and, by implication, joyously saying hello to my summer sandals. Oh, take a look at last summer's shoe frenzy, too! So these boots are walking to the storage closet and summer sandals are stepping out!

The Upside of Flying and Other Things

This wonderful display met us at the luxurious upscale Calgary airport and he was not alone. Throughout the concourse and shops areas there are unique sculptures and wonderful brag-about-Alberta dioramas. You have to have something to do while you wait three and a half hours for your connection!

This wild mustang sculpture was so real I was reluctant to stop in front of these horses long enough to take a picture.

On one of our walks last week we discovered a new golf course emerging from the ice and snow. We could just barely make out new greens covered for the winter amidst little hills and strategically planted evergreens. My husband is ecstatic and talk of golf carting across the road to play amped up our wish-it was-spring talk.

I caught this tree spreading its branches against the blue as I hiked over the burgeoning subdivisions near the golf course.

Another spectacular view met me as I opened the window blind to let the sun in about a half hour outside of Calgary on our return trip from Victoria. We were flying low! The rugged strength of the mountains took my breath away.

From Calgary's airport I watched the mountains and the Calgary downtown side by side on the horizon.

And, not to forget our first taste of spring in Victoria as we made our way home to snow, snow, snow, I'm including this fresh glimpse up on Mount Douglas, one of our new favorite places to go.

I've been looking for artwork for our bedroom in our new condo and it strikes me I ought to look for some of my own photos, worth enlarging, and display them. Mmmm. Now that's an upper!